Edward l



B. L. LID K' E.

SPRING DOUBLETREB. v No. 557,332.- Patented Mar. 31,1896.

(No Model.)

/0 8 /0 IE1 T xi m VZV/m U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. LIDKE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO F. M. RAKESTRAWV, OF SAMEPLACE.

SPRlNG-DOUBLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,332, dated March31, 1896.

Application filed April 10, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. LIDKE, of Toledo, county of Lucas, andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring-Doubletrees; and I do hereby declare that the following is 'afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to a spring-doubletree, and has for its object toprovide a doubletree in which the initial strain to start the load shallbe gradual upon the horses and shall not be directly between thedoubletree and the load until a maximum strain is exerted, wherebyseesawing of the horses due to the dread of a sudden pull to start aheavy load is avoided.

Another object is to distribute the strain upon the doubletree at apoint near each end in starting, the strain upon the central portion ofthe doubletree due to its contact with the doubletree-bolt thus beingavoided until a maximum strain is exerted by the horses,

. thus lessening the liability of the doubletree to break due to asudden jerk on the ends, as would be the case were the strain directlyon the doubletree-bolt.

The invention consists in a doubletree having a slot therein throughwhich the doubletree-bolt passes, there being a spring having a centralbearing against the bolt, the ends being connected to the doubletree,the spring having a tendency to hold the doubletree back. By this meansa forward pull of the doubletree will be against the spring until thedoubletree moves a distance corresponding to the length of the slot,when the pin will be engaged by the doubletree and the strain bedirectly upon the same.

My invention further consists in the parts and combination of parts asshown in the drawings, described in the specification, and pointed outin the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a spring-doubletreeconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a rear view of Serial No. 545,174. (No model.)

the doubletree-bolt 7. Secured upon the rear of the bumper or draw-bar,by means of a nut 8, is a spring 9, each end of the spring beingpreferably secured to the doubletree by means of straps or hangers 10.

From the foregoing the operation Will be readily apparent. A forwardpull upon the doubletree will cause the ends of the spring to bendforward due to a pull given by the straps 10, it being understood thatthe bumper or draw-bar abuts against the doubletreebolt. Therefore thedoubletree is free to move a distance corresponding to the length ofslot 4, at which time a maximum strain is exerted upon the doubletree,and the pull will then be directly from the doubletree upon thedoubletree-bolt. By this means the initial strain is gradual upon thehorses and is not a positive pull until the maximum strain is exerted.

What I claim is- A doubletree having a chamber in its rear portion and aslot extending transversely of the doubletree and communicating with thechamber, a plate or casting secured to the doubletree and having slotsregistering with the slot of the doubletree, a bumper arranged withinthe chamber, a doubletree-bolt extending through the slots of therespective parts and normally in engagement with the bumper, a springsecured at its center portion to the bumper, and straps pivotallyconnected with the doubletree and with the ends of the spring.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

- EDWARD L. LIDKE.

Witnesses: 1

CARROLL J. WEBSTER, WILLIAM WEBSTER.

